Atletico Madrid 5-2 Real Madrid: Resurgent hosts end Los Blancos perfect La Liga start in pulsating derby clash

Atletico Madrid produced a dazzling attacking display as they put their underwhelming start to the season firmly behind them with a 5-2 derby victory over fierce rivals Real Madrid.

There had been growing speculation coming into the game over the future of long-serving Atletico boss Diego Simeone, after his side took just nine points from their first six LaLiga games.

By stark contract, Xabi Alonso had overseen a perfect six wins from six to put Real Madrid two points clear of Barcelona in the table.

However, that run was to end in emphatic fashion at the Metropolitano as Simeone answered his critics in style.

The hosts took the lead courtesy of Robin Le Normand, who nodded home Giuliano Simeone’s teasing cross after a quarter of an hour.

Atletico dominated the opening proceedings so it came entirely against the run of play when Kylian Mbappe was played through by Arda Guler.

Despite having barely touched the ball in the game, the Frenchman made no mistake as he sprinted down on goal, lashing a fine drive beyond the dive of Jan Oblak to level the score.

It sparked Los Blancos to life. Guler then went from provider to scorer as he fired in a wonderfully controlled half-volley finish after some dazzling footwork from Vinicius Jr bamboozled two Atletico defenders.

Diego Simeone’s side thought they were back on level terms shortly before the break when Clement Lenglet bundled home, but replays showed the defender had clearly used his arms to divert the ball into the net.

But the hosts were not to be denied an equaliser for much longer. In first-half stoppage time, another fine delivery this time found Alexander Sorloth who beat Dean Huijsen in the air to make it all square once more.

The drama was to continue immediately after the restart. Guler was again at the centre of it, but this time for all the wrong reasons.

His high boot caught the head of Nicolas Gonzalez in the Real area, leaving referee Javier Alberola Rojas with little option but to award the penalty.

With Guler escaping with just a booking, Julian Alvarez dispatched the spot-kick to give Atletico the advantage.

Thibaut Courtois then prevented Sorloth bagging a brace with a brilliant save from point-blank range, but it counted for little as Atletico added a fourth just seconds later through the prolific Alvarez’s brilliant free-kick.

Antoine Griezmann then supplied the proverbial icing on the cake when he produced a classy finish to make it five and send the right and white section of the Spanish capital into raptures.